Did you know that today is National Dog Day? I consulted with Shadowfax about the holiday and she mentioned that she had marked the occasion on her calendar.
She also had a series of naps on her calendar. We had a discussion about time management and not double booking things. Actually I just mentioned it to her as she snored away on her fluffy pillow.
Link to Our Online Store
We recently took a trip to Northern California and stayed at a The Gray Eagle Lodge for a few days. Shadowfax accompanied us and had a great time strolling around, sniffing, and lounging in the sunshine. The weather was lovely; warm and sunny with blue skies and no wildfire smoke. To top off the great weather we only counted 2 mosquitos and John only managed to get one mosquito bite.
The cabin we stayed in was a lovely little spot along a babbling creek. The picture above is our morning stroll just as the sun was coming up over the ridge.
We took a few short day trips to the town of Graeagle (yes that spelling is correct). There was a lovely park in the middle of town and Shadowfax enjoyed lounging in the shady grass.
There was also the scenic and (according to Shadowfax) lovely smelling Gold Lake, a huge state park that only had a few visitors. This was a vacation that we had planned for some time, and it gave us a much needed chance to get out of town and immerse ourselves in some nature.
Link to Our Online Store
Shaak Ti left us a few weeks ago. She was 16 years old and had been a part of our lives for 15 years. So much a part of our lives that the gaping hole her passing has left behind is impossible to escape. She's no longer watching us upside down from her dog bed or underfoot, demanding pets. No longer greeting us with enthusiastic "woo woo woos" when we come home. It's been a hard couple of weeks and life without her is too quiet.
There is so much more to say, so many happy memories, but this is all we can muster right now. Hug your pups, tell them you love them. Even if you are lucky enough to get 15 years with them, they still leave too soon.
We had to say goodbye to Shaak Ti the other day. It was a heart wrenching process. Her little body simply couldn't take it anymore and she was telling us it was time. She left this world in her favorite bed, covered with her favorite blanket, laying her head on my leg and surround by the two people she loved so fiercely.
Shadowfax is trying to fill the void, but it's such a monumental task. She is going to need to get acclimated to getting all of our attention.
We'll post a more comprehensive ode to Shaak Ti, this magical little beast who was so much a part of our lives. Right now everything is still too painful, and we are processing our grief.
We have had some interesting bird sightings around the homestead this Spring. There had been some cedar waxwings over the past weeks around the neighborhood. We'd watched them picking berries off various shrubs and trees on our afternoon dog walks.
Over the course of a few hours one morning though we got to see them up-close in large numbers. Cedar waxwings are a very striking bird with a dark eye mask and bright yellow tail feather tips.
For a few hours in the morning they rushed in, drank and splashed, and flew away. Only to return minutes later. It was quite a show and we refilled the bird bath several times.
Link to Our Online Store
No posts since Christmas? Yoinks! Things have gotten away from us a bit.
Hopefully some cute pictures of the dynamic duo will be the balm that soothes the ache of us briefly ghosting you.
We'll try to do better.
Spring is here and things are warming up. We'll transition from snuggling in front of the fireplace to basking in the sunshine.
Link to Our Online Store
Happy and/or Merry Christmas to all.
We will try to resume regular postings as soon as we sleep off the eggnog and Christmas cookies.
Link to Our Online Store
Shaak Ti. This silly bundle of dog has been part of our lives for so long we sometimes take her antics for granted.
Laying in the grass on a sunny day is totally expected, normal for a dog.
Getting in a neck stretch to make sure all those neck nooks get nice and sunny, still within the realm of normal.
Laying in the gravel path though, well that's normal for Shaak Ti. She regularly gets covered in all manner of fluff and relish. She's not lacking for other comfortable places to lay down, there are half a dozen dog beds of all shapes and sizes throughout the back yard, she just prefers the gravel path.
Link to Our Online Store
